CHANGES
When we first came to Canada in nineteen seventy three,
Gas was less than fifty cents an imperial gallon, Wowee!
I could shop for six on about a mere twenty dollars a week,
Having to spend seventy dollars at Christmas I did freak.

Forty five thousand was a lot for a good sized house,
I know our income was lower, but we did not grouse,
For money seemed to go farther, eating out was cheap,
A hotel didn’t break you if you needed away to sleep.

Less than four dollars for six for a Macdonald’s treat,
Swiss Chalet was not much more for all of us to eat.
Going to the 'X' with the free food and drink everywhere,
Now you seem to have to pay to even breath the fresh air.

You also got in free if you had tickets to the ball game,
I think it was an hour before you could go, not a shame
For when the game was over there was enough time
To see everything, it was not stealing nor was it a crime.

A quarter for a large ice cream, a dime if it was small,
Free to go to Ontario Place, no charge to go in at all,
Many hours we did spend having good fun all the day,
We could then afford a few fun treats along the way.

I remember the first trip to Niagara Falls on Victoria Day,
Seeing the fruit trees in blossom as we drove the highway,
Then seeing the mighty falls for the first time was great,
There was this great big free BBQ at which we all ate.

Now, as pensioners, we wish those prices were all back,
For the extra funds to go many places we do now lack,
But we have the memories of all the 'X'’s good free food,
For after buying tickets, for other things we just brood.

(Millicent) Ann Margetson 17 April 2004